The finance ministry has reportedly informed the Economic Co-ordination Committee (ECC) of the Cabinet that gas output fell by 4.1 percent in January 2014 over the same month last fiscal year, it is learnt. Sources said the statistics presented to the ECC show that gas production has decreased to 3,742 mmcfd in January 2013-14 from 3,900 mmcfd for the same month of last fiscal year. A comparative analysis was given to the ECC based on gas production data for the first seven months of the current fiscal year and for the same period of last fiscal year.
The meeting was informed that the gas production has dwindled from 3,815 mmcfd in July 2012-13 to 3,780 mmcfd in July 2013-14, showing a decrease of 0.9 percent. The meeting was further informed that gas production showed a marginal improvement in August 2013-14 with increase in production to 3,793 mmcfd as compared to 3,777 mmcfd for the same month of last fiscal year. The improvement in production was up by 5 percent in the subsequent month of September 2013-14 with total gas production increasing to 3,768 mmcfd against 3,587 mmcfd for the same month of last fiscal year.
The production went down in October 2013-14 to 3,624 mmcfd as compared to 3,650 mmcfd for the same month of last fiscal year. The gas production in November 2013-14 was recorded at 3,626 mmcfd as compared to 3,621 mmcfd for the same month of last fiscal year. The decrease in gas production was noted 0.8 percent in December 2013-14 with output declining to 3,739 mmcfd against 3,771 mmcfd for the same month of last fiscal year. The comparative data of electricity generation presented to the ECC showed a 4 percent increase in power generation during January. The electricity production was recorded at 8,229 MW in January 2012-13 and increased to 8,573MW in January 2013-14, showing an increase of 344MW.